Central New York and Mohawk Valley to Host 2016 UTM Convention

Syracuse, NY - Onondaga County, Oneida County, CenterState CEO and the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), in partnership with Empire State Development, the Air Traffic Control Association (ATCA), and Syracuse University are proud to announce the 2016 UTM Convention will take place in Central New York and the Mohawk Valley this fall. UTM stands for Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Traffic Management (UTM), a comprehensive research effort, led by NASA, to safely integrate low-altitude unmanned aircraft (such as drones) into the national airspace.

Leveraging the success of last year’s inaugural event hosted by NASA at the Ames Research Center in Mountain View, California, the 2016 UTM Convention will be held Nov. 8-10 in sites across Syracuse and at the Griffiss International Airport in Rome. The convention is expected to attract attendees from the systems integration, unmanned aerial vehicle, and unmanned traffic management industries from across the globe.

“We look forward to hosting the 2016 Unmanned Aircraft Systems Traffic Management Convention this fall,” said Onondaga County Executive Joanie Mahoney. “In partnership with the state, our region is focused on the unmanned aircraft system industry and we are pleased to be welcoming NASA, the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International and the more than 500 attendees. They will see firsthand that Central New York is well positioned to lead the way in the emerging unmanned aircraft system industry.”

“As the only UAS test site in the State of New York, Oneida County is pleased to see the annual UTM convention here in our region,” said Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente, Jr. “When Oneida County’s Griffiss International Airport applied for and became the UAS test site these are the type of opportunities we had planned to see and be a part of. This is an integral step in developing the UAS industry throughout all of Central New York and the Mohawk Valley.”

“The unmanned systems industry represents a $140 billion marketplace and this region is positioned to play a leading role in its global development,” said Robert Simpson, president of CenterState CEO. “We have private sector expertise, our FAA-designated test site and a $250 million commitment from the state through the CNY Rising plan to further develop this sector. Hosting this convention signals that the industry recognizes our leadership position and is engaged in advancing the region as a hub of this technology.”

The list of industry and public officials expected to participate include representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration, NASA and other federal agencies, as well as industry and academic organizations. The program will feature a number of workshops on developing beyond visual line of site (BVLOS) operations in New York, as well as flight demonstrations in Syracuse and the Griffiss International Airport. The convention will also feature keynote briefings from NASA on technical capability level demonstration 2, in which industry collaborators will participate this October.

The convention builds on the momentum of the state’s recent commitment to developing the unmanned system industry in New York state through investments outlined in the CNY Rising strategic regional growth plan. This includes programs that will develop a regional integrated unmanned traffic management system, construct state of the art unmanned testing facilities, contribute to the development of global standards for UAS development and integration, create a landing pad for companies growing in the region, and becoming a resource for unmanned systems public policy research.

"Under Governor Cuomo’s leadership and the CNY Rising plan, this region is poised to be a national leader in the emerging unmanned aerial systems and unmanned traffic management industries," said Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul. "This conference is an endorsement for growing high-tech jobs in Central New York and the Mohawk Valley to show companies this is the best state to fly, test and develop their products."

"AUVSI is pleased to partner on the 2016 UTM Convention through its Empire State chapter,” said Brian Wynne, President and CEO of the AUVSI. “Last year's event was a critical step toward developing UTM in the United States, and we expect the 2016 convention in Upstate New York to build on that momentum."

“The UTM Convention brings the science of UAS traffic management to the forefront,” said Peter F. Dumont, ATCA President and CEO. "ATCA members have been actively engaged in developing UAS technology and implementation strategies for several years now, and the UTM Convention will provide a venue to bring stakeholders together to continue this important work. We are planning thought-provoking programming and coordinating on-site demonstrations to further facilitate collaboration and innovation across sectors.”

“The Unmanned Aerial Systems Traffic Management Convention is a great opportunity for academia, industry and government stakeholders to come together and harness our collective expertise to develop solutions for the safe and effective integration of Unmanned Aerial Systems into the National Airspace System,” said Dr. Teresa Dahlberg, dean of Syracuse University’s College of Engineering and Computer Science. “I am looking forward to a robust discussion of how the University’s research and academic programming can support this critical effort.”

“UAS is the next great evolution of aviation in the United States and this region has leading capabilities and expertise to advance the technologies and systems that are driving this sector,” said Lawrence H. Brinker, executive director and general counsel of the NUAIR Alliance. “Through this event we will not only showcase the test site and regional partners in the unmanned systems industry, but we will also develop new connections with companies that are looking to grow in this sector and have an opportunity to expose them to our regional assets.”

"Griffiss International Airport, operator and home of the Griffiss UAS test site is pleased that Central New York and the Mohawk Valley were selected to host the second UTM Convention,” said Russell Stark, Oneida County Commissioner of Aviation. “This convention will bring representatives from across the international UAS industry to our region, and provide us the opportunity to once again showcase the technological advancements of the Griffiss UAS test site, businesses in the Central New York and Mohawk Valley regions and the influence this industry has had on our state and educational institutions."

“Gryphon Sensors is leveraging decades of SRC expertise and investment in UAS integration and security technologies,” said Tony Albanese, president, Gryphon Sensors. “We are investing heavily in new systems and technologies, which will help enable the safe integration of UAS into the National Airspace System while creating new jobs in Central New York.”

“Hosting an international convention of this magnitude is an enormous gain for Syracuse and New York State,” said David Holder, president, Visit Syracuse. “The growth of this market segment is unlimited at this point. This event will pave the way to future success.”

Sign up to receive additional information about the 2016 UTM Convention at www.UTM2016.com.